New Zealand Probinces.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 44, 2 June 1860, Page 1 (Supplement)

New Zealand Probinces.

TARANAKI. Conspiracy to Murder Mr. Parris. — In our Correspondent's letter of May 14, which appeared in the Examiner, May 23, was given a short account of the escape of Mr. Parris, the Native Commissioner at Taranaki, from an ambush of the Ngatiruanui, whom Mr. Parris had gone out to meet on their return from their embassy to King Potatau. The following additional particulars are from the Taranaki Herald, May 19: — "Before the Waikatos left for Taranaki, their head chief (Rewi) went to the Rev. Mr. Morgan, at Otawhao, and expressed a desire to see Mr. Parria on the road, as they were escorting the deputation from Taranaki and Ngatiruanui on their return. Mr. Parris accordingly started for the coast on Friday, 11th May. On reaching Urenui, Mr. Parris was informed that the natives were then expected to be between Tongapurutu and Mimi, but on- arriving at Pukekohe, Mr. Parris unexpectedly came upon the whole party seated behind the breakwind away from the pa. A Ngatiruanui chief having been the first to observe Mr. Parris, rose andshookhands withhira, for which he afterwards received the censure of the whole of his tribe. The natives of Pukekohe (Nikorima's people), seeing Mr. Parris approach, waved to him with their blankets to keep off from the war party. Mr. Parris at once rode to the pah, when he discovered there had been no communication between the two parties. Here Mr. Parris remained some little time. The pah natives, according to custom, put out some potatoes and other food for the war party, after which some of the latter rose and said, "This white man, Parris, has arrived and entered this pah, and therefore we suppose the pah belongs to him ; in consequence thereof, the food is tapu " (not to be eaten of or accepted by them). This produced a discussion, which ended in the Waikalos declining to agree to it. The Ngatiruanui and Taranaki ate nothing but dry karaka berries, brought by them from Waikato, but the Waikatos partook of some of the food from the pah. Wetini, a Mokau chief, entered the pah, and told Mr. Parris the state of feeling against him ; advised him to be cautious, and added that the Mokaus had endeavoured to keep the party back. Mr Parris asked Wetini if he had any objection to return and invite the heads of the Waikato party to come and speak with him. He consented, but said it would lead to nothing. He went, and remained away full an hour, during which time Mr. Parris recognised Hone Pumipi, a Kawhia chief, amongst the party. Mr. Parris asked a native of the pah to go and see if Hone would come and see him. Mr. Parris saw Hone submit the proposal to the natives, after which he came towards the pah accompanied by a body guard of four men armed with guns. Hone approached the side of the pab, and, addressing Mr. Parris, said, I have come because you sent for me, but the people are pouri (evil disposed). Mr. Parris, observing an indisposition on Hone's part to converse (probably owing to the presence of the armed natives), said, " I merely sent to see you and ask you how you are," upon which one of the guard rose and said, " Enough, let us return," and they returned. As soon as they rejoined the party, the Ngatiruanui and Taranakis rose and fired off their guns, and started for Urenui, two or three miles nearer town. The Waikatos remained. Shortly afterwards the head of the Waikato party (Epiha) came to the pah to see Mr. Parris, and made the following disclosure. He commenced with a regular scolding : — * You are foolish ; you have brought your body upon us without sending a messenger or a letter, to let us know you were coming ; if we had met you on the march, you would have been shot dead without our being able to save you. As it is, you are dead.' Mr. Parris interrupted him to explain that it was in consequence of being requested by Mr. Morgan and Rewi to meet the party that he had come, and asked Epiha to explain what he meant by saying he was dead. Epiha replied, "It has been proposed to murder you. Shortly after you arrived this morning, Erueti (one of W. Kingi's natives) came ca us (WaiK&ta) and said when he saw you his flesh shook, and that he was going on to Urenui. Epiha asked, « What for V Erueti answered, *To wait for Parris's return. 1 Epiha said, 'What to do?' Erueti replied, 'To finish him.' Epiha observed, 'We have not come from Waikato for any such thing as murder, and if you determine to do it, we shall leave at once, and return to Waikato.' The proposal having been disapproved of by Waikato, Erueti was displeased, and left for Urenui with three others (Hori, Paora, and Taimona, all of Kaipakopako).' This occurred before the Taranakis and Ngatiruanui started for Urenui. A long and anxious conversation ensued as to the course to be taken, which ended in Epiha stating that he wonld wait for Mr. Parris at Urenui, and see him safely across. After Epiha left, it was arranged with Nikorima that a party of ten of his natives should accompany Mr. Parris as far as Waitara. Night was now setting in, and, as the party approached Vre-

nui, they sang out to warn Epiha, who was across the river. In ascending the cliff the natives were found assembled near the top, the party halted, and Mr. Parris was asked to come in front. A row of armed natives was on each side of the path. As soon as Mr. Parris had got clear of the armed men, Epiha ordered a halt, and requested the ten natives who had accompanied Mr. Parris from Pukekohe to return to their pah. This they declined, and as it threatened an unpleasant discussion, Mr. Parris entreated them to return, as he threw himself entirely upon the Waikatos. Hone Pumipi thereupon stepped forth from the crowd and said * Parris I'll take charge of you.' As Hone said this, a man in a flax mat forced his way forward and rubbed noses with Mr. Parris. Hone observing this, seized the stranger by the chest and forced him back, when he explained ' This is my white man/ and he proved to be a brother-in-law to Teira of the Waitara. The situation was one of extreme peril. A large body of natives hustled Mr. Parris ; and amongst the crowd, though they could not be distinguished by the starlight, were many of the conspirators. The chiefs Epiha and Hone now called out to all the natives to stand clear of the pakeha, and the dark mass of human beings fell back. It was communicated to Mr. Parris that the ambush party had gone on to Onairo. An armed party of Waikatos then fell in, a native on each side of Mr. Parris grasping him by the hand, besides an advance and rear-guard ; and in this way Mr. Parris was conducted to Waiau (about five miles) in the darkness of the night. On arriving at Onairo, where there is a spot of bush, through, which the road passes, the party was halted, one native remarking, * This is the place they said they would kill him.' Double files were here placed around Mr. Parris, and the whole directed to keep close together. From Waiau to Waitara the road is on the beach; at the former place Mr. Parris was required to join in a clever extempore prayer for the ' King,' the Queen's, and his own safety. After which Mr. Parris separated from his preservers. Apiha, in reply to the acknowledgments made to him, told Mr. Parris not to attribute his deliverance to him but to God ; that he would yet meet him as an enemy by daylight, but that he (Mr. Parris) had seen he would not consent to bis being murdered.' " The Waikato escort was estimated at 150 natives, the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui deputation at 50." The Herald of the 26th of May, says :— "In the account given in our last issue of Mr. Commissioner Parris's escape from the plot to assassinate him, Rewi's name appears as the chief who with the Rev. Mr. Morgan desired that Mr. Parris would meet the Woikato escort, take charge of the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui delegates, and, if possible, induce the escort to return withont coming on to Kingi at Waitara. Rewi himself, not approving of the expedition, remained behind at Mokau. We now publish the chiefs remarks upon the occurrence referred to. It may be stated that Rewi is the prime minister of the j Maori King cabinet, the natives not wishing to be behind us at least in the forms of government." Mokau, May 21, 1860. Friend Parris — Salutations to you. I have heard of your having been nearly killed, and I blame myself far having left the party, for I knew the intentiona of the Mgatiruanuis were bad. I did not properly understand what Mr. Morgan has said to you. I was very much confused at the time about Epiha, who I 'was about to follow to bring back, but he would not listen to me, I therefore remained at Mokau. You should have written to me on hearing from Mr. Morgan. I would have kept with the party had I known you were coining to meet them. If the If the Waikatos behave properly (meaning those already with W. King) I shall remain at Pawawa, bnt if they behave badly I shall return. j From your friend, Rewi Tukoeehu. The Herald of the 19th May gives the following account of the stoppage of the issue of that paper the previous week : — " In explanation of the cause of the stoppage of our last week's issue of the Herald, we have great pleasure in laying before our readers the following correspondence, from which they will perceive that the publication is allowed to proceed as usual. We regret the inconvenience to which our subscribers have been put in the meantime, and we beg to inform them that last week's paper has been issued, with the omission of the paragraph objected to. New Plymouth, 14th May, 1860. Sic— l received on Saturday a verbal message from the Commander of the Forces, through Lieutenant King, of the Taranaki Militia, informing me that I had laid myself open to the penalties attached to the giving information to the enemy, by an article in the Taranaki Herald of that day, and that the paper was suppressed in consequence. I have the honour to observe that it seems a strong measure to take against me without any written notice, and shall be obliged by your causing me to be informed whether Lieutenant King was authorised to act as he did. With respect to the objectionable paragraph, I would state that it seems to mo perfectly harmless as conveying information to the enomy, embodying as it does only current talk in the town, which is not more likely to come to Maori ears by being printed. I may be allowed, as one acquainted with the natives, to say that they are always, through their own spies, well informed on every movement of the forces, and the strength and position of every picket. If the omission of the paragraph in question will give satisfaction to the Commander of the Forces and remove any objection that may exist to the issue of the paper, I should wish to bow to his directions and ex* punge it. I am, &c, Gk W. Woosr, Captain Paul, Bsfcb Regimenb, Acting Brigade-Major. New Plymouth, 14th May, 1830. Sin — In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of this date I am directed by the Colonel Commanding the Forces to acquaint you that your views of the consequences which might folloy the publication of the paragraph it was his wish to stop, are quite erroneous, and that he is surprised that any man of ordinary capacity should not have offered a more satisfactory explanation. He considers your publication exceedingly objectionable, and calculated to do much harm to the inhabitants of tliis town. You are at liberty to circulate your paper, provided the paragraph above alluded to is erased } and lam desired to request you will not again render it necessary for the officer Commanding the forces to take a step so repugnant to his feelings. I have, &c., James Fato, Captain and Acting Major of Brigade. CX W. Woon, editor Taranaki Serald. HAWKE'S BAY. It will be remembered that, during last seesiou of the Provincial Council, a resolution

was passed expressive of sympathy with our fellow-colonists at Taranaki, and of approval of the course pursued with reference to Wiremu Kingi by the Governor. The following is the reply received by the Speaker : — Sie — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter conveying to me a resolution passed unanimously by the Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay, and in return I beg to offer to the Council my best thanks for the expressions of confidence contained in their resolution. It may be satisfactory to tho Council to know that the policy in question has been approved by her Majesty's Government. I am, &c, T. Gobe Beowne. — Hawke's Bay Herald, May 19. Land on Deferred Payments. — We learn upon good authority that arrangements will immediately be made for carrying out the resolution of the Provincial Council, passed during last session, providing for the purchase by the Provincial Government (so as not to infringe the Waste Lands Act, 1858) of blocks of land suitable for small farm settlements, and for the re-sale of the same, subdivided into sections of from 40 to 1 00 acres, upon the principle of deferred payments. Three blocks have been selected for this purpose, in Tikokino, Porangahau, and Pukititiri, respectively, each block not exceeding 2,000 acres. The subdivisions, we understand, are in course of being effected, immediately after which the land will be open for selection. — Id. The steam dredge purchased by the Government in Sydney had safely arrived in the bay. She is named the Huntress, and was built on the Richmond River, New South Wales, in 1853. The Hawke's Bay Government gave 563,000 for her on her safe delivery at Napier. She is of 50 horse-power, and her rate of dredging is 200 tons per day.